How does it work?

Uses & Effectiveness?

Likely Effective for

Preventing or treating a lack of vitamin A (vitamin A deficiency). Research shows that adding red palm oil to the diets of pregnant women and children in developing countries reduces the chance of having too little vitamin A. It also seems to help increase vitamin A levels in those who have too little. Red palm oil seems to be as effective as taking a vitamin A supplement for preventing or treating low levels of vitamin A. Doses of about 8 grams or less per day seem to work best. Higher doses don't seem to have more benefit.

Insufficient Evidence for

Malaria. Early research suggests that eating palm oil in the diet does not seem to decrease symptoms of malaria in children under 5 years of age in developing countries.

Anti-aging.

Brain disease.

Cancer.

Cyanide poisoning.

High blood pressure.

Weight loss agent.

Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of palm oil for these uses.

Side Effects & Safety

Palm oil is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in food amounts. But palm oil contains a type of fat that can increase cholesterol levels. So people should avoid eating palm oil in excess. Palm oil is POSSIBLY SAFE when used as a medicine, short-term. Taking 9-12 grams daily for up to 6 months seems to be safe.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Palm oil is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken as a medicine during the last 3 months of pregnancy. Not enough is known about the use of palm oil as medicine during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Children: Palm oil is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth as a medicine. Palm oil has been used for up to 6 months in children under 5 years of age and for up to 12 months in children 5 years of age and older.

High cholesterol: Palm oil contains a type of fat that can increase cholesterol levels. Regularly eating meals containing palm oil can increase levels of "bad" low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. This might be a problem for people who already have high cholesterol.

Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

ADULTS

BY MOUTH:

For preventing or treating a lack of vitamin A (vitamin A deficiency): About 7-12 grams of red palm oil daily has been used in some research. Some evidence shows that using 8 grams of red palm oil or less per day is most beneficial.

CHILDREN

BY MOUTH:

For preventing or treating a lack of vitamin A (vitamin A deficiency): Up to 6 grams of red palm oil per day in children 5 years and under, and up to 9 grams per day in children over 5 years of age, has been used for up to 6 months. Also, 14 grams of red palm oil three times per week for about 9 weeks has been used. Some evidence shows that using 8 grams of red palm oil or less per day is most beneficial.

Anderson, J. T., Grande, F., and Keys, A. Independence of the effects of cholesterol and degree of saturation of the fat in the diet on serum cholesterol in man. Am J Clin Nutr 1976;29(11):1184-1189. View abstract.

Bosch, V., Aular, A., Medina, J., Ortiz, N., and Apitz, R. [Changes in of plasma lipoproteins after the use of palm oil in the diet of a group healthy adults]. Arch Latinoam.Nutr 2002;52(2):145-150. View abstract.

van Stuijvenberg, M. E. and Benade, A. J. S. South African experience with the use of red palm oil to improve the vitamin A status of primary school children. Food & Nutrition Bulletin 2000;21(2):212-221.

van Stuijvenberg, M. E., Dhansay, M. A., Lombard, C. J., Faber, M., and Benade, A. J. The effect of a biscuit with red palm oil as a source of beta-carotene on the vitamin A status of primary school children: a comparison with beta-carotene from a synthetic source in a randomised controlled trial. Eur.J.Clin.Nutr. 2001;55(8):657-662. View abstract.

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